Raleigh roads bond is needed and deserves citizen support

Raleigh is rapidly growing, but in too many places, it’s not rapidly moving. The city has outgrown many of its streets, which badly need to be widened, and it needs to look at changing some one-way streets to two-way or perhaps vice versa. The idea is to find ways to move things along in a city where more people are going more places.

A $206.7 million bond referendum focused on transportation will be on the ballot this fall, and for the paltry amount it would raise property taxes (a little over a penny per $100 valuation) it’s a bargain. And, it’s fair to residents in all parts of the city, something that has been important to Mayor Nancy McFarlane, who once represented a North Raleigh district.

There would be some improvements in the downtown area in the form of switching a couple of streets to two-way roads at some points and putting in some sidewalks, but Dixie Forest Road from Spring Forest Road to Atlantic Avenue would be widened, as would Trawick Road from Capital Boulevard to Marsh Creek Road. Part of Atlantic Avenue, from Highwoods Boulevard to New Hope Church Road, would also be widened.

This is an important bond. Too many parts of the city are starting to get choked at rush hour, and streets that are too narrow invite accidents. Road maintenance and making needed changes also are important in planning more and better roads 10 or 20 years from now. If infrastructure is allowed to deteriorate, catching up is almost impossible. And Raleigh doesn’t catch up, it leads.